HCE Blog

You clean the sink and the dishwasher, but have you ever thought to wash the dish-drying rack? We know what you’re probably thinking. I put clean dishes in there! Why would I need to wash it? The answer is simple: mold.  You can wash it just like you wash dishes: with soap and hot water. Make sure to keep the dish-drying rack dry to keep mold and other bacteria from growing on its surface. Try...

You know what they say, “A dog’s mouth is cleaner than a human’s.” Whether that’s true or not, there is one thing, for sure, that is dirtier than both: your pup’s favorite squeaky toy. With the bacteria from your dog’s mouth, the bacteria from the environment around you, and even the bacteria on your hands, those toys are covered in all sorts of germs. Often included in that collection of bacte...

The fridge, home to yummy food and loads of bacteria.  Yep. You read that right. Bacteria. Keep your fridge cleaned out regularly to avoid a buildup. But you need to make sure you clean ALL your fridge. One of the most neglected places in your fridge that you may not think about cleaning is the ice cube maker.  If even the freshest ice cubes come out of your ice machine appear cloudy and smel...

What is one of the most-touched items in your household? We’re sure many of you said the fridge door handle, doorknobs, or even the sink knobs, and while those are accurate, you may not have thought of your remote control. Some studies have shown that a remote control may have up to 70% more bacteria per square inch than your home’s toilet seat!   To clean your remote control, wipe it down wit...

You shuffle back into the house after a successful trip to the grocery store, arms laden with grocery bags. You set the bags down onto the counter, turn to open the fridge, and are met with a musty odor. Mold… Now, you’re faced with a decision. Do you shrug it off and put the groceries away anyway, or do you break down and get to scrubbing? We know what the easiest answer is, but it’s not the ...

Trying to help the environment by ditching those plastic bags for canvas totes when you go shopping?  You may not have thought about it, but those bags need to be washed regularly! Leaving reusable grocery bags unwashed increases the chance of transferring bacteria from the store to your home. If you go grocery shopping weekly, you should wash your bags weekly, even if products inside don’t lea...

Backpacks aren’t as simple as they used to be. They come with so many buckles, zippers, and straps, you are more scared the washing machine will get messed up before the actual backpack will. To avoid any mishaps, empty every compartment of the backpack and make sure you keep them open. Now that your backpack is empty, place it in an old pillowcase and tie it shut. Add a small amount of your fa...

There are many reasons a person may want to disinfect their couch. You could be a person who’s a huge animal lover and refuses to let any of their fur babies deal with a harsh winter or cruel summer. You could’ve just allowed a sibling or friend to crash on your couch while they were going through a hard time, and now the couch just isn’t as minty fresh. Or you could be honest with yourself, th...